Federer withdraws from Madrid Masters because of back injury

FILE- In this April 15, 2016 file photo, Swiss Roger Federer gestures during his quarter final match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament against France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, in Monaco. Roger Federer withdrew from the Madrid Masters on Monday because of a back injury. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau, File)
(The Associated Press)

Roger Federer has withdrawn from the Madrid Masters because of a back injury.

The third-ranked Federer said Monday that he was hurt in practice during the weekend and didn't want to take any chances aggravating the injury.

Federer was coming of a knee injury after the Australian Open which sidelined the Swiss player for about two months.

The 35-year-old Federer, the winner in Madrid in 2012, had been a late addition to the field this week. The tournament was not originally on his schedule, but the former No. 1 decided to include it as part of his preparations for the French Open in three weeks.